The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) includes many unique features. One of these unique features is the ‘built-in agenda’ for new negotiations, which is set out in Article XIX. Even though successive rounds of tariff negotiations were held under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1947, the GATT Contracting Parties were never under any legal obligation to do so. In contrast, the GATS made it a legal obligation to conduct a new round of services negotiations. Specific mandates are given on the starting date of the negotiations (2000, or not later than five years from the date of entry into force of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO Agreement); the aim of the negotiations (progressive liberalization ‘directed to the reduction or elimination of the adverse effects on trade in services of measures as a means of providing effective market access’); as well as the negotiating guidelines and procedures which shall be established by the Council for Trade in Services.

Pursuant to the built-in agenda, the new services negotiations started in early 2000. They encompass both rules (domestic regulation, safeguard, subsidies, etc.) and market access issues. According to the Guidelines and Procedures for the Negotiations on Trade in Services,1 the request-offer approach is the main method of negotiation of specific commitments. As of October 2005, the total number of initial offers submitted was 69 (representing 93 Members); with 54 initial offers remaining outstanding.